Born in Aiken, South Carolina, in 1953,
Sheriff Leon Lott attended the University of South Carolina - Aiken,
earning an Associate Degree in Police Administration. He went on to attend
the University of South Carolina - Columbia, earning a Bachelor Degree in
Sociology and continued with graduate study for a Masters in Criminal
Justice. Later, Sheriff Lott graduated from the FBI National Academy, FBI
National Executive Institute, Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School
of Government, and Furman University's SC Diversity Leadership Academy.
Sheriff Lott earned a Masters in Emergency Management from Lander
University.

Sheriff Lott came to the Richland County Sheriff's Department in 1975 as a
patrol officer. He advanced thereafter to various positions, including
Criminal Investigator, Narcotics Agent, Lieutenant and Captain of
Narcotics Division, Administrative Captain, Uniform Patrol Captain, and
Watch Commander. In 1993, Sheriff Lott took the position of Chief of
Police of St. Matthews, SC.

In 1996, he made a successful run for Sheriff of Richland County. Upon
taking office, Sheriff Lott turned the direction of the Department to
Community Oriented Policing. The success that the Department has had in
the community since that time can be measured by the civic and community
oriented boards and committees that have asked for Sheriff Lott’s
participation, to wit: